January 4, 2026

Dear Friends, I hope you and your loved ones had a beautiful Christmas celebration and continue to experience joy during these 12 days of Christmas through the Epiphany of our Lord. This week we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. What memories do you have of your childhood and the challenges your family faced? What memories and traditions might you be creating with your children over the holidays and every day? I thought you would enjoy this reflection from Fr. John Muir on his family, the Holy Family and perhaps your family. When I was ten, my dad gathered our family around the table in small-town Vermont and told us we were moving to the big desert city of Phoenix, Arizona. We were leaving behind family, friends, and everything familiar. None of us knew what to expect. But something beautiful happened. As we made the move together, our family grew closer. In retrospect, I’m amazed at my parents’ courage to go on that adventure. Even as a kid I realized our family found, in that challenge, a deeper unity and mutual love. In today’s Gospel, Joseph is told: “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee…” (Matthew 2:13, 20). First to Egypt, then later to Israel. The Holy Family is frequently challenged to move and change, to adapt to God’s will for them, in order to find safety in the midst of threat. It’s not just an idiosyncratic story about survival. It’s a spiritual pattern for all of us. Every Christian family is called to be a kind of sanctuary, especially in a world full of noise, busyness, and fear. May I make a practical application for us? The Lord’s Day, Sunday, is perhaps the most practical way we imitate this dynamic we see in Joseph and his family. Sunday is not meant to be just like every other day, filled with errands and stress. It’s meant to be a day set apart; a holy “escape” into rest, worship, joy, and peace. A day to rise, take your family, and flee, into God’s presence. — Father John Muir ©LPi May we all flee into God’s presence at Mass, whether it is the weekday or weekend. I wish all of you a happy and healthy New Year. Blessings, Fr. Rob

MERRY CHRISTMAS! We all pray that your Advent has been full of faith and HOPE , and that you have found PEACE along the way despite the busy pace of the season. We are filled with JOY from being your staff members, and LOVE working with each other and serving the needs of our parishioners and our community. May the joy and wonder of Christmas be with you all year. We wish everyone a happy and healthy 2026. God Bless! Rob, Mike, Jeff, Margie, Eric, Ben, Anne, Shauna, Bob, Dan, Meg, Karen, Pam, Katie, Nancy and Sue